County Information

The 54th Mendon Dust-Off Sunday drew more than 800 cars and many more car enthusiasts to Mendon High School. The old-car show, generally acknowledged as the first major event of the season, was considered a success, according to Brian Stutzman, president of the Three Rivers Classic and Antique Restorers Club, which hosts the annual gathering. Stutzman said the supply of …

The driver of a car who killed a 46-year-old Sturgis man last week faces open murder and other charges. Police arrested Paul Middling, 36, of Three Rivers, after the car he was driving caused a crash at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of South Centerville Road and South Street in Sturgis. Middling is charged with open murder, driving under the …

An area priest who resigned following investigation into inappropriate use of church funds has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000. Richard Fritz is due back in court later this month, after an arraignment in April in St. Joseph County District Court. Michigan State Police investigated the case and submitted their findings to the Branch County prosecutor in February, requesting …

Glen Oaks Community College staged its 49th commencement ceremony Friday. In all, 112 of the college’s 152 graduates took part in Friday’s ceremony. College officials said the youngest graduate was 18, the oldest 58 and average age of graduates was 24 1/2. Three dual-enrollment students and one Early Middle College student were a part of the ceremony. Glen Oaks President …

A Porter Township man died last week after a tree he was cutting down fell on him. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called to the 12000 block of Old 112 shortly after 2 p.m. Friday. Deputies arrived to find 83-year-old Gordon Jackson deceased. An investigation at the scene along with physical evidence indicated that Jackson was in …

March’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was seven-tenths of a percent lower than one month previous. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.5 percent March unemployment rate marked a decrease from February’s 4.2 percent. St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 4.8 percent in March. …

Glen Oaks Community College has announced the promotion of Morgan Balcom to head women’s basketball coach. Balcom takes the reins after Michael Mosley stepped down from the position in early February. Balcom has fielded the head-coaching responsibilities in an interim role since that time. “Morgan has done an exceptional job since being put in a tough position in February,” according …

State police investigators are looking into the breaking-and-entering of a residence around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday last week in the 58000 block of Covered Bridge Road. The suspects are believed to have gained access to a garage and shed by going through the back yard of the residence. Multiple totes full of items were reported stolen as well as a bench …

The St. Joseph County Grange Fair is beginning a program to replace its decades-old trees with new ones starting this year. Fair manager Bill Johnson said a common scene in photographs of the St. Joseph County Grange Fairgrounds from its earliest years to current times is the numerous trees that surround the property. These same trees are now being replaced …

The longest-serving probation officer in St. Joseph County’s history is the recipient of the 2017 St. Joseph County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award. Steve Wilson, who is retiring following a 40-year career as a probation officer with the Michigan Department of Corrections, was announced Thursday as the winner of the award, first given in May 1985. A Sturgis resident, Wilson …